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Simple Cathedral Windows Tutorial

March 8, 2016

This is a simple Cathedral Windows quilt tutorial that uses circles and is also Quilt As-You-Go! I really enjoyed making this quilt – it’s refreshing to make something different from your traditional patchwork quilt for a change. It comes together fast and beautifully! Simply prepare your circles and then sew them together, and no binding needed!

Please scroll down to see my tutorial, which is comprised of 7 steps: steps 1 through 6 are video tutorials, and the last step are photos.

This is my first time doing a video tutorial on my own, so forgive me if I drifted out of the frame for a few seconds here and there ;-p

Inspired by my love of vintage china and tea cups, my High Tea fabrics are a delicate, soft and romantic collection.

My High Tea collection has a total of 36 prints, so I decided to make this a 6×6 quilt (6 rows with 6 circles in each row). This size makes a great wall-hanging or baby quilt that measures approximately 37″x37″.

Here is how the back looks. I love the quilted petal pattern on the back that is easy to achieve by simply stitching the circle edges down on the front of the quilt. This is explained in the last step of my tutorial.

Step 1 – Cutting: cut thirty-six (36) 9″ batting circles, and seventy-two (72) 9″ fabric circles. Layer for quicker cutting. To quickly complete the cutting, I used a 9″ paper plate as a cutting template, a rotating cutting mat by Fiskars, and a 60mm rotary cutter. Watch my video to see how I did it!

Step 2 – Sew the Circles: Next, sew thirty-six (36) padded circles, or “pancakes” as I like to call them =) Make sure to cut a hole in the front!

Beautiful stack of “pancakes”! =)

Step 3 – Make a Square Template: Sew all 36 of your circles (or pancakes) as shown in step 2, above. Then, prepare a 6″ square template for marking your circles. My video shows how to account for any seam allowance discrepancies, so be sure to watch.

Step 4 – Properly Mark your Circles: First, arrange all 36 circles on the floor in a 6×6 formation (6 rows with 6 circles in each row). Make sure the holes (where you turned the circles right-side-out) are facing up. Then, watch my video below on how to properly mark the circles using the square template.

To recap, here are Three things to remember from my video (above) when using the square template to mark your circles:

Mark the side of the circle that has the hole.

Only mark the sides where you will be sewing and folding the edges. Or in other words, do not mark on the outer edges of your quilt where binding would be if this were a traditional quilt. If this sounds confusing, please watch the video for a better explanation.

Hide the holes! When marking, keep in mind where the hole is to make sure it eventually gets hidden.

Step 5 – Sew each circle within each row together: Watch my video on how to pin and sew your circles within each row together.

Step 6 – Sew the Rows Together: Watch my video on how to assemble the rows. Make sure the intersections are sewn down.

Clarification: in my video above I said to make sure to “sew through all 4 layers at each intersection,” and then drifted out of the frame when trying to show it up-close, lol.” This was (obviously) my first go at a video tutorial! ;-p What I meant to say is to make sure to sew through both layers of the row at each intersection. Please see my photo below for clarification. Sorry for any confusion!

Step 7 – Top Stitch the Petals down: Iron the petals down so they are laying flat, then top stitch them down. I don’t have a video for this, but below are some up-close photos of how it looks after I stitched them down. I simply guided my walking foot along the edge of the petals to stitch them down, using a 3.5 stitch length. Depending on your sewing machine, you may want to use a walking foot for this part. Start and end your stitch with a back-stitch.

I started with a corner circle and stitched all the petals within that circle down, then made my way to the next circle. In most cases, I was able to do continuous quilting from one circle to the next without having to end a stitch and lift my presser foot. However, whenever I came to a point where I couldn’t continuously quilt into the next circle, I simply ended that stitch with 2 back-stitches, lifted my presser foot, then re-positioned the quilt so I could continue stitching down the petals within each circle.

Here’s how the back will look:

I hope you enjoyed my first video tutorial, and my first quilt that I made using my own fabrics! =) If you make this, don’t forget to tag me on instagram! Seeing your projects makes the time spent doing this tutorial all worth it!

Oh, my, gosh!!! This is even more doable than I originally thought. The fabric line is gorgeous and I hope I have access to your fabric. You did an excellent job of communicating the necessary information for this quilt to be a success. Thanks so much!

Great 1st vid tut! I like how you kept calm with the babe crying and your alarm going off, lol. I’m going to use this technique for a jean quilt, this way is neater looking than others that I have looked at. Great job1

Great tutorial and your very first video. I am impressed, you did a great job. Thank you for taking the time to show us how. So sweet to hear your baby waking up. I like your fabric line also, very pretty. I will have to look for it when it comes out. My kind of fabric. Thanks again Diane.

Love this , thank you so much for the detailed tutorial. I have made two throws from your book so far. Everything is so easy to understand. I can hardly wait to see the next one. When I make this I will link back to your blog.

What a nice informative tutorial, you would never think it was your first. I can’t wait to try making this quilt! I come from a long line of quilters who have made so many quilts, but never thought I could make the cathedral quilt, but thanks to you, I am going to give this one a try!

Jera, I’m so excited for you about your new fabric line! I’ve loved following you for the last few years and you are one of the main reasons I started quilting. My very first quilting book was your ‘Quilt as you go made modern.’ I loved the video tutorials on this quilt…it’s lovely and I can’t wait to make one. Please think about doing some videos that illustrate your method of QAYG…I know I wouldn’t be the only one who’d love to see you demonstrate it. 🙂
p.s. I’m doing The Splendid Sampler and can’t wIt to see your block! 🙂

WOW… can’t wait to give this a try. i’ve done cathedral windows the “traditional” way and this seems so much funner… AND easier. the bonus is the fact that it’s not only a quilt as you go but you also don’t have any binding to do at the end. a HUGE win-win. thnx so much for sharing!!
PS – LOVE your fabric lines too 🙂

Good job! Very clearly explained with good photos and video. I’ve been thinking about making a quilt using this technique for some time, but now my brain is spinning with possibilities for fabric combinations. Dang . . . I don’t need another UFO. LOL

I really liked the tutorial. Some people need things repeated to really get it!!! If you don’t need extra repeats, just skip through it and folks who need repeats aren’t left behind. I’m going to make one very soon–as soon as my machine returns from the repair man because I caught my left pointer finger in the bobbin mechanism of a Bernina 880 and messed up the bobbin someway!! Who knew your finger could get caught when the bobbin started flipping to the back when it shouldn’t have?

suzieseamstress—-how rude, if yournit liken what you hear or see, GET OFF THE SIGHT n GO SOME WHERE ELSE, where its faster for you….I MAYBE RUDE RIGHT NOW but TAKEN UP FOR SOMEONE ELSE…GET REAL….*****BE NICE*****

Excellent tutorial; Beautiful fabric line. Please do not change your presentation in any way. To Susie: In school classrooms, repeating is absolutely necessary in order for all of the students to understand. Also, repetition is so prevalent in the Bible; therefore, I think it sets the standard.

I really have to say that High Tea is the most beautiful line of fabrics, I just love it! I want to make a crocheted quilt, as I love both crochet and quilting, and think it really looks gorgeous together with the delicate joining stitches, pretty. Love the line and would love to get some yardage and precuts when available. Thanks my email is Tlmiam1@yahoo.com. Sincerely, Tracy.

Jera, what a wonderful (and patient) teacher you are. Like everyone else, I love your fabric line — it is perfect for this quilt. You made this look so easy to do and I can’t wait to give it a try. I look forward to anything you might do in the future. You are just “a delight”. Thank you so very much !!

I wish you had not called this a cathedral window. If you had ever seen one beautifully done, you would call this something else. Your quilt is beautiful, but it is not a patch on a real cathedral window quilt. I have been working on one fro a while. Completely by hand. Please call it a cathedral window look alike.

I have sewed one by hand too, it too me a long time because I couldn’t make the time to finish it in between multiple moves and such. I am sure the hand sewed ones are prettier and better, but for people who just don’t have the time to do it by hand, this is a good substitute.

I love your cathedral window quilt and your tutorial was great. One question. How do you think it would look to do an additional semi circle stitch to finish the edges so that the design on the back is complete. Or do you think it would make the front look weird?

I am an older well seasoned quilter. This is the BEST tutorial I have ever watched. I especially liked it because you did not have any background music and your instructions were clear and concise and not filled with needless jabbering. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely work and skills.

I just discovered your tutorials and I think you are a great teacher! I’m planning to make this quilt and lots more from your blog. I have ordered some of your fabric and am getting your book. I can’t wait until Sept. for your new book to come out!!! Thank you!!!

I have had a troubled and disappointing experience with this quilt, sad to say. If I ever did it again (not) I would use flannel for the center fill. I would also draw circles on fabric and then sew, as my circles were not all the same. Quilting it was also very difficult and I am quite experienced. My beautiful fabrics now wasted, oh dear.

I am in my 60’s and love quirky, different quilts. This quilt is quite beautiful and your tutorial is excellent. Thank you for prefacing your instructions/steps. It sure makes it easier for those of us who have trouble remembering some of the little details. Great job and I look forward to seeing more of your video tutorials. BTW I have purchased both of your books. (one will arrive in Sept). I have made two quilts from your first book. I really love the QAYG technique.
Thanks again!

The first task is to decide how big you want it. I like the idea of a 10 inch stacker because then you get every piece in the line (make sure it says one from each piece in the line) when you order or buy it. If not take a piece of any yardage you have and figure out how many circles you get per yard (remembering there is a back too) Then estimate that plus a half yard. Never find yourself short! 🙂 Now I would not use one piece as I like variety, so figure how much you need for each circle and figure how many circles you want front ( and back ) from each fabric. Then decide. It depends on what you want! I think that is why she didn’t say! (I like the 10 inch stacker idea) .

Very Nice quilting tutorial! I like things repeated a lot, so maybe suzy doesn’t need a tutorial. You are very sweet! Love seeing pictures of your kids and dog! I have your book, and until I can get your fabric I will make your Cathedral Window from a Christmas layer cake. I too have made one by hand, very time consuming, ended up with a wall hanging. This looks fun and simple with your tutorial! You are one of the emails I never delete without taking a look see!!

is there anyone that can send me the tutorial? because it keeps telling me I can’t watch it…
here is my email but would like for you to send it to my facebook, but PLEASE SEND IT TO BOTH
f/b- Denise Prince
email- denise_prince42566@yahoo.com
I live in Campbellsville, Kentucky
thanks to anyone that will help me…

Thank you so very much for this wonderful tutorial!! I have had a “quilter’s block” for a couple of
months and just couldn’t get motivated to make anything. (weird, I know ). Anyway, I watched this
tutorial and I am almost done with my cathedral window table runner. I started it right after viewing your
tutorial. 🙂 This was just what I needed to get me going again….it is sooo cute, different and you make it look so easy & fun to do. I, also, really love your fabric and will be looking for it and read you have a couple of books out, too. This opened up a whole new world for me.
A huge thank you and hope you do more tutorials……you have a great style, Jera.

Hello!

My name is Jera Brandvig and I'm from the rainy city of Seattle. I am a quilter, author and fabric designer but first, I am a proud mother to two beautiful boys (& a furry little girl named Paige!). Click me to read more. Thank you for stopping by! ;)